West Of England Ladies Kennel Society

This was a very enjoyable appointment. Thank you to the WELKS committee for inviting me to judge here and to my excellent stewards for their hard work on the day. There was a lovely entry and nice atmosphere. This is such an engaging breed, and it was a joy to spend time with them.

Veteran Dog (2,0)

1st: Merrell’s Ewart James: A largish lad. Skull is wide and reasonably flat, and he has quite good parallel head planes. Moderate stop. Almond shaped, dark eyes. Ears well set. Moderate length to neck. Moderate angles fore and aft. Firm topline. Deep chest. Rib cage is long enough, and he is short coupled. Tail set ok. Sound mover.

2nd: Jones’ Ch Madincrowd Gabriel JW. A very typey boy indeed. I preferred his overall size to 1st. Masculine head with well-proportioned skull and muzzle. Looking just a tad pinched in muzzle. Moderate stop. Parallel head planes. Moderate length to neck. Well placed shoulders and return to upper arm. Neat elbows. Good bone for size. Deep chest, muscular loins. Tail set correctly. Moved soundly but just showing his age a little here.

Junior Dog (1,0)

1st: Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Posy’s Pawnee. 7 months. Wide enough skull for age, still to flatten slightly. Correct skull to muzzle ratio. Moderate stop. Dark, almond shaped eyes. Ears are well set. Moderate length to neck. Well laid shoulders and good return of upper arm. Nice bone for age. Has enough width for age. Elbows tight to ribcage. Well-proportioned. Cobby. Really firm topline. Well-set tail. Nice for size. Sound, just needs to settle.

Post Graduate Dog (3,0)

1st Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Posy’s Powwow. 7 months and again a promising baby. Head is in proportion to body with flattish, wide skull. Moderate stop. Muzzle tapers towards nose. Head planes ok. Almond shaped eyes, dark in colour with lovely expression. Ears are well set. Strong neck. Well laid shoulders. Moderate bone. Enough width through the chest. Deep chest. Could perhaps be a little longer in ribcage. Firm topline. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Moved soundly when settled. RBD

2nd: Pinto-Pearson’s Parabar Petro. Wedge shaped head, but skull a little too rounded for me. Moderate stop. Eyes almond shaped, but light in colour. Neck quite short and shoulders a little upright. Dipping behind the withers. Good bone. Deep chest. Moderate turn of stifle. Tail set correctly. Coat rather long. Nicely presented. Sound.

3rd: Merrells’ Swanndale Antony.

Open Dog (3,0)

1st: Felstead’s Ch Lankeela You Go Boss At Foveaux. A super liver and tan boy who really stood out here. Really lovely outline and fulfilled my expectation for a Heeler to be small, powerful and sturdily built. Super masculine head with lovely wide flat skull. Super parallel head planes – the best here today. Equal length to skull and muzzle. Moderate stop. Tapering muzzle. Almond shaped eyes which are dark enough for his colour. Medium length to neck. Super shoulders and excellent return of upper arm. Strong pasterns. Small feet. Deep chest and correct length of foreleg. Well-sprung ribs and correct length of ribcage. Short coupled. Super firm topline. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Tail set on high and carried typically. A superb mover from all angles with a free, brisk stride. In great condition. Loved him. Looked super in the group. BD. BOB

2nd: Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Perfec’ Popkin. Larger and leggier than 1st. Wasn’t so keen on his expression compared to 1st. Wide enough in skull. Muzzle doesn’t taper quite as well as 1st. Lovely almond shaped, dark eyes. Moderate length to neck. Moderate angles fore and aft. Deep chest. Typical in front with firm enough pasterns. Strong topline. Ribs well sprung. Tail set a fraction lower than ideal. Moves soundly. In pristine condition.

3rd: Pinto-Pearson’s Parabar Petro.

Junior Bitch (2,0)

1st: Langford & Nicholas’ Arenite Versu. A very feminine young bitch who needs to build in confidence on the table. Needs to broaden a tad in skull. Correct equal length of skull and muzzle. Moderate stop. Almond shaped eyes which are dark in colour. Typical expression. Ears are well set. Moderate length of neck. Well laid shoulders. Upper arm is ok for length and angulation. Small feet. Needs to mature in body. Could be slightly longer in ribcage and shorter in loin. Topline is firm and strong. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Well-set tail, which she carried nicely on the move. An extremely sound mover with free, brisk strides when she settled. RBB. BP

2nd: Davies’ Parabar Posy’s Pocahontas Piparlo. This one was a real ‘jack-in-a-box’ and was quite hard to assess. Pretty girl. Wide, flat skull. Excellent head planes and proportion of skull and muzzle. Muzzle tapers nicely. Eyes a little fuller than 1st, but dark in colour. Ears are well set. Neck a tad short and a little upright in shoulder. Upper arm angles back correctly. Elbows well set. Deep chest. Firm topline, would prefer a tad more length of body. Short loins. Moderate turn of stifle and low set hocks. Well set tail. Smart little dog, but hard to assess on the move.

Post Graduate Bitch (3,1)

1st Grant-Parkes’ Parabar Monkey Puzzle. A bitch with correct proportions of skull to muzzle and good head planes. Wide skull and muzzle tapers enough. A little fuller in eye than I prefer, but dark in colour. Ears well set. Correct length of neck. Well laid shoulders. Upper arm could angle back slightly more. Good bone. Quite wide in front. Deep chest. Firm topline. Well-turned stifles and low set hocks. Tail set on high and carried well on the move. Looking rather out of coat here. Lovely brisk, free action in profile, but had a tendency to move wide coming towards me.

2nd: Bailey & Hancock’s Selstar Lemon Drizzle. Head is rather long through and pinched in muzzle. Skull could be flatter. Almond shaped eyes which are dark in colour. Lighter in bone and rather leggy looking in body. Moderate angles fore and aft. Lovely firm topline and muscular condition. Well handled.

Open Bitch (3,0)

1st: Felstead’s Foveaux Queens Gambit JW. Black & tan of high quality indeed. Gorgeous

feminine head. Equal length of skull and muzzle. Moderate stop. Skull wide between ears, could perhaps be just a tad flatter for perfection. Lovely almond shaped eyes which are dark in colour. Moderate length to neck. Excellent shoulders and upper arm. Deep chest. Well sprung ribs. Great for bone. Super firm topline. Could be just a fraction longer in body compared to height at withers, but ribs are carried well back, and she is short coupled. Moderate turn of stifles. Low set hocks. Small feet. High set on tail which she carries well. Excellent coat and condition. Fantastic mover with lovely free, brisk action. She really fills the eye and has so many qualities. Surprised to see she is not yet a Champion. Her title must come. BB

2nd: Jones’ Ch Madincrowd Mercy Chant. Larger bitch than 1st all through. She has correct head proportions. Looking a little pinched in the muzzle today. Not quite such a good wedge as 1st, but nice parallel head planes. Little fuller in eye than 1st, but of good dark colour. Ears are well set. Great neck and shoulders and good return of upper arm. Deep chest. Good bone. Firm topline. Well sprung ribs. Ok in loins. Moderate turn of stifles. High set on tail which she carries well. Hocks ok. I felt she had an excellent coat. Didn’t really show herself off on the move today but did go soundly.

3rd: Davies’ Parabar Aspiring Actress Piparlo